On blood transfusion to pets and their importance

Author: Veterinary Doctor – Dr. Somfalvi Rita

Whether it’s a parasite, a strong trauma or a more complex pathology, we are almost daily with patients, both dogs and cats, which need a blood transfusion. And since we want to have many donors available in such critical moments, we emit useful information about what this donation involves and what the steps are followed.

Blood donation in dogs

The classification used for blood groups in dogs is the DEA system. There are several blood groups (from 1, 3, 4, etc.) but the most important criterion is if the patient is 1 positive or negative (i.e. the presence/absence of an antigen on red blood cells). Individuals give 1 positive are universal blood credits and those give 1 negative are universal donors.

A suitable donor is an adult dog of at least 25 kg, with a minimum age of 18-24 months and a maximum of 8 years, vaccinated and updated, clinically healthy during the donation.

Step 1

Test of blood groups and clinical examination. Subsequently, if, following the clinical evaluation performed by the veterinarian, complementary exams (hemolyteogram, biochemical analysis, etc.) it is possible to carry out. It is recommended to be tested the blood for eMoparasites (4DX test, cytology of the blood).

Passage 2

Donation. The patient can be cut around the neck and the compulsory bath/ disinfected so that the area is sterile. The blood collection is performed in 8-12 minutes after which about 450 ml of blood are collected. This is done in lateral decubitus or in the «session» position.

Often the donation procedure in dogs can be performed without sedation, but there are cases in which the doctor can request a slight sedation so that the processing is easier and minimize stress for the donor.

The donation day the patient will not undergo excess efforts, the scratches that can make compression at the jugular level will be avoided. The water will be administered at discretion and a small food «bonus».

In the case of dog donations they can be performed every 2-3 months.

Blood donation to cats

In the case of cats, the blood groups are A, B and AB. Most cats are group A, a group of small parts B and very rarely ab. Transfusions are made only between cats with the same blood group, the exception is the AB group which is a universal recipient.

An ideal candidate for donation is an adult cat of at least 4 kg, aged between 18 months and up to 8 years, vaccinated and updated, with negative viral tests (IVF/Felv). A cat can give once every 3-4 weeks, but it is recommended to perform blood analysis (hemolyteogram) if it has donated 2-3 times in a row.

In the case of cats, sedation is often a necessity. Although it is a painless job, cats associate events, such as the vet, with stress. Consequently, sedation causes the process to last less, is performed without unpleasant events for the donor or owner. About 50 ml of whole blood are collected.

A big difference between the two species is that, in the case of dogs, blood storage can be used for a fixed period or its separation on the components while the blood collected by the cats must be used within 24 hours of donation. In addition, its separation on the components is still a process that is not available at a general level. As in the case of dogs, the day of donation, excessive physical activities will be limited and the cat will be supervised.

Any medical work can have complications. In the case of donation, the complications are minimal and do not affect the duration of the quadruped in any form. Chronologically, the first complication that can occur is that the patient does not make a complete donation. This can happen or if the animal is not sedated to not have the necessary patience or to have side effects (tachipnea, tachycardia, hypersalivation, etc.) that lead to the tervaglio cessation. We find these complications very rarely because the process is always performed in a quiet and isolated environment, without stressful factors.

Another complication is the appearance of a hematoma (accumulation of blood at the puncture). It is several times small and is resurrected in 24-48 hours.

In conclusion, blood donation in pets is a relatively easy job, performed under minimum stress, which does not negatively affect your animal’s life and, above all, as in man, save life. If you also have a quadruped that is suitable and you want to enter the donor program that we are waiting for you for further information or including the donation.

Contact us with confidence with any question and not forget: one day you may need a donor for your animation!